Devotion: Playing Freely
Please read the scriptures from the weekend: Isaiah 65:17-19
The sound of young children on a playground or in a backyard brings so much joy. One without worry or fret. In my years of child care these are fond memories, the sound of laughter in a baby, as well as the sudden sound of an angry voice, or tears, bring immediate responses. There’s a routine to it that can bring us to attention. Parents, teachers, and even grand and great-grandparents know these sounds well, and the joy that reminds us to praise the Lord we are alive to experience it all. Every day I pray the short prayer that Christ may be seen in me today. This past Sunday morning, as I was in the Welcome Center, a little 3-year-old came toward me. He is readily recognized by “the table bunch” and circles the table giving us all a high-five and a smile, he then gets a donut hole with Daddy. This Sunday as this child saw me at the Welcome Center, he opened his arms wide and ran to me giving me a warm hug! As usual, my tears began.
God grants us these special moments knowing how much they mean to us. That relationship with Him, as well as happiness with family on trips, or camping, or even just quiet sitting with loved ones, is the “calm in the storm” moment we crave now. As Pastor Sarah shared with us in her wonderful message, we crave these moments as they bring hope versus what the world gives us – a new difference to our reactions. We are gradually being “Re-wired” to react to life in good and bad ways.
Too often we are being “Re-wired” to defend our feelings, thoughts, and actions. We are caught between our habits and the changes the world wants us to make. Some of those are good like the “jumping bikes” lesson (i.e. if something gets you hurt, don’t do it again). But some of those instances cause us to go into defense mode. The kind of defense against those who believe “their way is the only way.” These times call my heart to ask, “Is it what God would want for us?” Would Jesus react to this situation? Even in the New Testament, there were times that Jesus reacted in ways that were sometimes compassion-filled, and sometimes with anger (like the turning of the tables in the outlying area of the tabernacle). Our lives are bombarded with reaction-filled moments in Defend Mode and further from Discovery Mode.
Join me in seeking God’s guidance in these times. Ask to feel His presence and His love in our daily lives, and watch to see His mercy unfold. And, as Pastor Sarah shared, “Be able to forgive, be able to listen, and be ready to be ‘Re-wired’.”
Heavenly Father, in your infinite mercy, help me to accept Your gracious gifts of understanding, with a grateful heart, guiding me on this continued path we walk together. And let Christ be seen in me this day. Amen.
Written by Fran Baatz
Fran has been a lifelong member of Sheridan as the first baby girl to be baptized back in 1953 as her parents were charter members. She loves to serve as a part of the Hospitality team as well as one of the Sheridan quilting teams. She is also a member of Lydia Circle. Fran has four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren she adores as well as her two daughters.